Container assembly having compartments and means for stacking container blank

ABSTRACT

A container assembly formed of a member which when unassembled is in a generally planar configuration. A plurality of hinge lines formed in the member enables the member to be folded into a predetermined shape for dividing the member into a plurality of predetermined sections. Hollow indentations form structural components which interact when the member is folded along the hinge lines to provide a structure of predetermined shape, and enabling a plurality of the members to be stacked when unassembled.

United States Patent [191 Congleton [111 3,834,609 [451 Sept. 10, 1974CONTAINER ASSEMBLY HAVING COMPARTMENTS AND MEANS FOR STACKING CONTAINERBLANK [75] Inventor: I Wayne Congleton, Whittier, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Dolco Packaging Corporation,

Burbank, Calif.

[22] Filed: July 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 273,558

[52] US. Cl, 229/28 R, 206/427, 206/509, 229/2.5 [51] Int. Cl B65d l/24,B65d 75/02 [58] Field of Search 229/2.5,28 R; 206/65 A, 206/65 R; 220/4E [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,121,232 12/1914 Davis229/15 2,702,648 2/1955 Fisher 217/265 2,990,945 7/1961 Smith 206/33,111,223 11/1963 Jacobi 206/65 R 3,400,873 9/1968 Bessett 229/2.53,552,595 1/1971 Gemer 220/16 3,557,489 1/1971 Ferrand 220/4 E PrimaryExaminer-William 1. Price Assistant ExaminerBruce l-l. BernsteinAttorney, Agent, or FirmNilsson, Robbins, Bissell, Dalgam & Berliner[57] ABSTRACT A container assembly formed of a member which whenunassembled is in a generally planar configuration. A plurality of hingelines formed in the member enables the member to be folded into apredetermined shape for dividing the member into a plurality ofpredetermined sections. Hollow indentations form structural componentswhich interact when the member is folded along the hinge lines toprovide a structure of predetermined shape, and enabling a plurality ofthe members to be stacked when unassembled,

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures CONTAINER ASSEMBLY HAVING COMPARTMENTS ANDMEANS FOR STACKING CONTAINER BLANK THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The fieldof art to which the invention pertains includes container assemblies.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In conventional-type shippingcontainers which are used to transport goods and materials, it isdesirable to ship and store the unassembled containers using as small aspace as possible. When the container is finally assembled and ready foruse, it is desirable that the container structure be self-contained andnot require additional materials for partitioning the container or forassembling into the final shape. In addition, where or to ship thecontainers partially assembled. When the containers are shippedpartially assembled, storage results in large amounts of space beingused until the containers are finally assembled. In addition, where thecontainers are shipped in multiple separate units it has been found tobe time consuming to finally assemble the container.

In order to overcome the attendant disadvantages of prior art containerassemblies, the present invention provides a container assembly whichcan be stacked flat when unassembled allowing a maximum number ofcontainers to be shipped and stored with a minimum amount of space. Inaddition, when the container assembly is assembled for use, theresultant receptacle is BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is atop perspective view of a plurality of stacked container assemblies;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of one of the container assemblies of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section, partial view of one of the containers of FIG.1, taken along the line 33 ofFlG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container assembly of FIG. 2 shownassembled;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative form of containerassembly;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another form of con- 5 tainer assembly;and

self-supporting and the desired structural form is pro- 4 vided by meansof the container assembly itself.

Known prior art includes US. Pat. Nos. 3,447,26], 3,557,489, 3,515,036,3,375,607, and 3,284,949.

Specifically, the container assembly is formed of a member which whenunassembled has a generally planar configuration. A plurality of hingelines are formed in the member for enabling the member to be folded intoa predetermined shape and for dividing the member into a plurality ofpredetermined sections. Hollow indentations are formed in the sections,the indenta- 5O tions interacting when a member is folded along thehinge lines for providing a structure of a predetermined shape. Theindentations are hollow on one side of the member enabling the member tobe stacked when unassembled. When the sections are folded, the indenta-FIG. 7 is a perspective view of still another form of containerassembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the containerassemblies 12 are formed with a plurality of indentations which arehollow on one side allowing stacking of the assemblies in unassembledform as shown, The container assemblies each comprisa a central section14 which is interconnected at hinge lines 16 and 18 to a first section22 and a second section 24, respectively. The indentations 26 in thecentral section 14 are dia mond-shaped, tapering inwardly and upwardly.The indentations 28 and 32, respectively, in the first section 22 andthe second section 24 are generally trapezoidal in cross section andalso taper upwardly to generally a cross-sectional point. It should benoted that the indentations 26, 28 and 32 are all formed in a planetransverse to the longitudinal axis of the assembly along the hingelines 16 and 18. As shown more clearly in the sectional view of FIG. 3,the central section 14 has bev-. elled edges 34 and 36 adjacent thehinge lines 16 and 18, respectively, which cooperate with bevelled edges38 and 42, respectively, of the first and second sections to permit easyflexure of the sections.

Referring additionally to FIG. 4 there is shown a typical assembledversion of the container of FIGS. 1 and 2. The first section 22 andsecond section 24 are folded along the hinge lines 16 and 18 so that thebevelled surfaces 34 and 38 and bevelled surfaces 36 and 42 abut eachother. Normally, these surfaces are cut at a 45 angle so as to enablethe sections 22 and 24 to be positioned in a plane perpendicular to thecentral section 14. In addition the diamond-shaped indentation 26 istapered to a line 44 formed in a plane perpendicular to the hinge lines16 and 18. The indentations 28 and 32 also taper to lines 46 and 48,respectively. Thus, when the sections 22 and 24 are folded inwardlytowards each other as shown in FIG. 4, the lines 46 and 48 will abuteach other and one end of the lines 46 and 48 will abut the line 44 on adiamond-shaped section 26 so as to form a generally U-shapedcross-sectional member. Thus, the structure of FIGS. 14 formscompartments, with the indentations 26, 28 and 32 together formingpartitions between adjacent compartments.

Referring to FIG. 4, as shown by dotted lines, a number of U-shapedcross-sectional members can be joined together, with the sections 22 and24 having similar shaped sections folded adjacent thereto and forminghinge lines at the oins.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown an alternative embodiment of thecontainer assembly wherein the central section 52 of the containerassembly joins a pair of side sections 54 and 56 which can be stacked inthe manner shown in FIG. 1. The central section 52 contains adiamond-shaped indentation 58 similar to the diamond-shaped indentation26 of FIG. 1. The indentations 62 and 64, formed in the side sections 54and 56, respectively, abut the diamond-shaped indentation 58. However,their edges 66 and 68, respectively, are spaced apart when the containerassembly of FIG. is formed. Therefore, adjacent compartments are notseparated by complete partitions as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through4. Such a structure allows a unitary object to be positioned in two ormore adjacent partitions with the members 62 and 64 being positionedadjacent such a structure so as to form a support therefor. Asillustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 5, such an assembly could be usedto secure a pair of binoculars 72 positioned with an eyepiece inadjacent compartments, and the bridge 74 joining the eyepieces extendingtherebetween.

Referring now to FIG. 6 there is shown an alternative embodiment whereinthe floor of the central section may be made flat throughout its length.In FIG. 6 the diamond-shaped section 26 of the central section of FIG. 1is replaced by a pair of triangular-shaped edge indentations 82 and 84formed along the hinge lines 86 and 88, respectively, of the centralsection 92. The triangular-shaped indentations abut the end of thetrapezoidal sections 94 and 96, respectively, of the first and secondsections 98 and 102. Thus, the floor 104 of the central section 92 isgenerally flat for a long distance enabling an elongated member to bepositioned thereon.

Referring now to FIG. 7 there is shown a box-shaped container enclosedon four sides made in accordance with the principles of the invention.In FIG. 7 three hinge lines 112, 114, and 116 form three edges of abox-shaped member 118. The fourth edge 122 is formed by joining the endsof the two adjacent sections by adhesive or tape or other type ofsecuring arrangement. The device of FIG. 7 may be manufactured in long,flat sheets and then cut off in four identical sections. The identicalsections each have triangularshaped hollow indentations 124 spaced alongthe edge or hinge lines which join with adjacent triangular sectionsspaced along the adjacent section. It will be understood that boxeshaving a larger number of sections than four sections can be formed. Ofcourse, it should also be understood that a triangular-shaped member canalso be formed.

Typically, the container assemblies which are U- shaped such as shown inFIGS. 4 and 6 could be covered at the open ends by menas of clearplastic or other transparent-type material so that the object inside thecontainer assembly could be clearly visible, thereby enhancing theproduct and encouraging the use or sale of the product. Typically, theU-shaped assemblies such as shown in FIG. 4 can be used to carry plantsor other seedlings. The rigid structure of the container providesprotection for the seedlings while allowing easy removal thereof. Thus,with the container of FIG. 4, one need merely pull apart the sections 22and 24 to enable the seedlings to be removed.

The containers shown in FIGS. 1 through 7 can be made of pressed paper,but polyurethane or similar type of plastic material is preferred.Importantly, and referring back to FIG. 1, a coating 132 can be formedalong protruding edges of the identations. Such adhesive coating enablesrapid assembly of the containers. Alternatively, or additionally,adhesive can be placed on the diamond section edges 44. Such coating canbe of non-self sticking variety which allows the assemblies to bestacked as in FIG. 1, yet allows ease of assembly of the final product.The adhesive could be used in all embodiments on adjacent surfaces whichabut each other in the final assembly of the container.

It should be understood, of course, that while various shaped devicesare shown, other shaped devices not shown could be utilizedincorporating the broad principles of assembling a carton as depicted inthe present patent application.

I claim:

1. A container assembly formed of a member which when unassembled is ina generally planar configuration and when assembled folds into apackaging device, said container assembly including a plurality of hingelines formed in said member for enabling said member to be folded into apredetermined shape and for dividing said member into a first section, asecond section and a central section interconnecting said first andsecond sections, each of said sections being formed with a plurality ofindentations spaced one from another along the axis of said container,said indentations being formed in planes generally perpendicular to theaxis of said container, all of said plural indentations in said firstand second sections having top edge surfaces in a single plane, whenassembled, and beveled inner end surfaces, opposing ones of said topedge surfaces abutting each other along their entire lengths, and saidinner end surfaces abutting said central section indentations so as toform a generally U-shaped structure and to divide said container into aplurality of discreet completely enclosed compartments when said memberis folded along said hinge lines.

2. A container assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cnetralsection indentation is generally of a diamond shaped configuration.

3. A container assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the abuttingedge surfaces of said indentations contains adhesive material whichenables a rigid structure to be formed when said member is folded.

1. A container assembly formed of a member which when unassembled is ina generally planar configuration and when assembled folds into apackaging device, said container assembly including a plurality of hingelines formed in said member for enabling said member to be folded into apredetermined shape and for divIding said member into a first section, asecond section and a central section interconnecting said first andsecond sections, each of said sections being formed with a plurality ofindentations spaced one from another along the axis of said container,said indentations being formed in planes generally perpendicular to theaxis of said container, all of said plural indentations in said firstand second sections having top edge surfaces in a single plane, whenassembled, and beveled inner end surfaces, opposing ones of said topedge surfaces abutting each other along their entire lengths, and saidinner end surfaces abutting said central section indentations so as toform a generally U-shaped structure and to divide said container into aplurality of discreet completely enclosed compartments when said memberis folded along said hinge lines.
 2. A container assembly in accordancewith claim 1 wherein said cnetral section indentation is generally of adiamond shaped configuration.
 3. A container assembly in accordance withclaim 1 wherein the abutting edge surfaces of said indentations containsadhesive material which enables a rigid structure to be formed when saidmember is folded.